In this assignment you will write a reflection paper on two stories which will be provided down below.
GUIDELINES:
1. A reflection paper is your identification of the main themes of the readings integrated with your classroom experience and how both affect your thinking and practice.
2. A reflection paper is your chance to add your thoughts and analysis to what you have read and experienced. It is meant to illustrate your understanding of the material and how it affects your ideas.
3. Unlike research papers, reflection papers are written in a less formal style, with the author’s ideas and perspective being the focus of the essay. To substantiate these ideas, you must also incorporate supporting evidence from the article you have chosen and/or outside sources into your reflection paper.
4. Begin by jotting down some of the reading material and class experiences that stand out in your mind. Decide why they stand out to you.
5. Using the first person singular (“I”), relate the readings and classes to your previous knowledge and experience and consider if and how what you have read and learned changes your thinking on the particular topic. How so?
6. In your first two paragraphs, you must identify the readings that you will be reflecting on (state name of authors and title of readings). Briefly discuss the subject of the articles and talk about your preconceptions of the subject, as well as a brief summary of your initial reaction.
7. In the body of the essay, you can discuss the articles one at a time. You can discuss the first article and then in your discussion of the second, make connections or engage with the first article. Or, you can choose to discuss 2 to 3 main points that are made in both articles that are similar or maybe they are different arguments. What do you agree/disagree with? You can make links with your own personal lives, events in your communities, events in the news etc. You can also draw on a class film/documentary. Remember, a good compare/contrast essay doesn’t only point out how the subjects are similar or different (or even both!). It uses those points to make a meaningful argument about the subjects.
8. As you conclude your essay, discuss what you learned from the readings? What questions did the readings raise? What are the implications of what you have read?
9. If you include any other articles, please cite them. Include in-text references and a reference page for any materials you cite using APA or Chicago Manual of Style citation formatting.
Links:
Film – I am Not Your Negro
https://tubitv.com/movies/521419/i-am-not-your-negro
PLEASE BE SURE TO INCLUDE SOME (NOT ALL) OF THESE QUOTES FROM THIS FILM I WILL PROVIDE. BELOW, BUT DO NOT INCLUDE THESE QUOTES IN THE INTRODUCTION AND CONCLUSION.
“The story of the negro in America, is the story of America.”
“You cannot lynch me and keep me in ghettos without becoming something monstrous yourselves. And furthermore, you give me a terrifying advantage. You never had to look at me. I had to look at you. I know more about you than you know about me.”
“Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.”
“The world is not white. It never was white, cannot be white. White is a metaphor for power…”
James Baldwin – Here Be the Dragons.
https://www.cusd80.com/cms/lib/AZ01001175/Centricity/Domain/1073/Full%20Text%20Here-be-Dragons-James-Baldwin.pdf
PLEASE BE SURE TO HIT ON SOME OF THESE POINTS I WILL PROVIDE BELOW
Beyond Binary Labels: Baldwin criticizes the strict definitions of masculinity and femininity, arguing that human experience is much more fluid and complex. He introduces the concept of androgyny, where an individual embodies both masculine and feminine traits.
Baldwin argues that the traditional definitions of masculinity (strong, aggressive, emotionless) and femininity (gentle, submissive, nurturing) are artificial constructs.
These categories limit people from expressing themselves authentically. Men are expected to suppress their emotions and femininity, while women are discouraged from being assertive or powerful.
This can lead to feelings of inauthenticity, unhappiness, and conformity.
Androgyny refers to a person who possesses characteristics traditionally associated with both masculinity and femininity. This doesn’t necessarily mean someone is physically ambiguous but rather that they defy expectations of how men and women should behave.
Sexuality vs. Societal Norms: Baldwin challenges the idea that love and sex are always intertwined. He argues that societal norms often distort our understanding of sexuality, particularly regarding homosexuality.
Suppressing Emotions: The traditional American man is expected to be stoic and unemotional. This can lead to men bottling up their feelings, which can manifest in unhealthy ways like anger, violence, or addiction.
The Flawed American Man: Baldwin critiques the narrow definition of masculinity that dominates American society. This rigid ideal, he argues, hinders men from achieving true complexity and personal growth.
OVERALL, THROUGHOUT THE ESSAY BE SURE TO BE OPINIONATED. AND DO NOT EXCEED 4PAGES.
